Cabinet closure member



Oct. 5, 1954 J. H. GERSTENMAIER CABINET CLOSURE MEMBER Filed Sept. 28,1950 FIG.:L

FIG.2

INVENTOR. JOHN H. GERSTENMAIER ATTORN EY Patented Oct. 5, 1954 CABINETCLOSURE MEMBER John H. Gerstenmaier, St. Marys, Ohio, assignor, by mesneassignments, to The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, a corporation ofOhio Application September 28, 1950, Serial No. 187,261

1 Claim.

This invention relates to an improved type of lid or closure member forfreezer or cooler cabinets and the like such, for example, as those usedto store ice cream, frozen foods, etc. More particularly, it relates toa novel form of closure member for a cabinet having access openings onthe top of the cabinet,

One object of this invention is to provide a lid that is simple inconstruction and, at the same time, very sturdy and durable.

Another object of the invention is to provide a lid of substantiallyunitary construction that has no fastening devices of any kind in thefinished lid.

A particular object of the invention is to provide one modificationwhich embodies a hinge element between the lid members that is anintegral part of the lid structure,

A still further object of the invention is to provide an integral hingeelement in the closure member that will not cause condensate to formthereon and subsequently drip into the contents of the chamber on whichthe closure is employed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a lid structure that iseasily assembled from the component parts into the finished product witha minimum amount of effort and a minimum number of parts.

And still another object of this invention is to provide a lid structurethat will be sanitary and readily maintained in a sanitary condition.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparenthereinafter as the description thereof proceeds, the novel features,arrangements and combinations being clearly pointed out in thespecification as well as in the claim thereunto appended.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan View of a double lid embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a section taken along line IIII of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is an enlarged section taken along line lIIHI of Fig. 2.

Freezer or cooler cabinets of various types are very common nowadays forthe temporary storage of perishable merchandise of all kinds. Suchcabinets are advantageously employed to hold frozen foods, ice cream,candy, drugs, medicines and, in many instances, the customer serveshimself by personally removing his requirements from the cabinet throughthe access openings. Because of the low temperatures maintained in thesecabinets, it is desirable to keep the access openings therein closedtightly for as much of the time as possible. At the same time, however,the closure member employed for this purpose should be so constructedthat it may be easily removed or opened when access to the cabinet isdesired but provides a positive seal when closed.

Many constructions for closure members for use in freezer cabinets havebeen suggested and used in the past but all have included the use offastening devices of some type to hold the component parts of the doortogether, By the elimination of fastening devices, the sources ofprobable contamination and corrosion are reduced to a minimum. Thisinvention represents an improved construction that eliminates the use ofany separate fastening means in the assembly of the closure member.

In Figs. 1, 2 and 3 a double lid commonly referred to as a flip floplid, is represented by the numeral l8 and is made up of two sections, l9and 20, joined in a side-by-side relationship by a flexible hingeelement 2 I. The lid Is as shown in Fig. 2 fits into the opening of thecabinet 22. The hinge element 2| as illustrated is a reinforcementelement or strip of fabric coated with a flexible plastic material suchas rubber and preferably should be a material that is compatible withthe material used in the frameworks of the sections [9 and 20.

The lid sections I9 and 20 have a framework 23 of flexible plasticmaterial with the bottom panel member 24 integrally joined with theframework during the vulcanization or molding of the rubber. Panelmember 24 is formed preferably of a thin metal sheet such as aluminum orstainless steel so as to prevent corrosion from any condensate that mayform thereon in the use of the lid [8. In the preferred form of theinvention the edges of the panel member 24 are turned upwardly and haveperforations therethrough at spaced intervals to allow the rubbermaterial of the framework 23 to flow through during vulcanization andmechanically interlock the panel member 24 with the rubber of theframework. A lip 25 is formed around the upper and outer periphery ofthe three sides of the framework 23 of each section that contact thesides of the opening of the freezer cabinet. The lip 25 is substantiallycoextensive with the outer periphery of the assembled sections [8 and i9so as to engage the top surface of the freezer cabinet to assist insealing the opening of the cabinet.

The sections l9 and 20 are joined in side-byside relationship with thehinge element 2| of a flexible material and molded integrally with theframeworks 23 of the sections l9 and 20 as illustrated in Fig. 3. Thehinge element assumes the general shape of an inverted U and may be ofany flexible material. In the preferred form is a fabric-reinforcedmaterial such, for example, as rubber-coated nylon fabric in order thatit may withstand the innumerable fiexings to which it is subjected inuse. The hinge element 21 as shown extends across the width of theframeworks 23 between the sections 19 and 20 and is positioned with thebight of the U, substantially flush with the uppermost face of theframework so that the exposed surface of the lid is smooth. The legs ofthe U-shaped hinge element 21 are firmly embedded in the framework 23 asshown in Fig. 3.

By reason of the use of a fabricated reinforced hinge element 2| thecondensate will not form on the hinge element, moreover since the hingeelement 2| is coextensive with the width of the framework, thepossibility of any foreign matter or condensate falling into the freezercabinet is eliminated. After the framework 23 and hinge element 2| havebeen vulcanized with the bottom panel members 24 in place a layer 26 ofinsulating material, such as glass, wool, cork or any other suitablematerial, is placed within the framework and over the panel member 25.The top panel member 21, preferably of stainless steel, is then insertedinto the framework 23 to complete the structure. The panel member 21 asshown has downwardly and outwardly extend ing edge portions whichinterfit with the groove formed in the upper and inner periphery of theframework and serve to hold the panel member 21 in position. The panelmember 21 is more easily inserted while the framework 23 still retainssome of the residual heat of vulcanization but can be done later ifdesired.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2 hinges 23 and 20 are formed as an integralpart of the framework 23 with a corresponding recess formed in the panelmembers 21. The handle 23 on lid section 20 is offset transversely fromthe handle 29 on lid section IS. The ofisetting of handles 28, 2%permits either section 19 or 20 to be opened for access to a portion ofthe cooler cabinet and in each case the open section will be disposed insubstantially parallel relation to the other section.

As is readily apparent from the foregoing description of the invention,no fastening elements of any type are used in the lid structuresdescribed and a minimum of separate component parts are used forconstructing the lid. Structures such as these are more economical toconstruct and assemble and require less attention and upkeep thanconventional structures.

While certain representative embodiments and details have been shown forthe purpose of illustrating the invention, it will be apparent to thoseskilled in this art that various changes and modifications may be madetherein without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

I claim:

In a closure member for the access opening in a freezer cabinet and thelike embodying a framework of flexible plastic material having a pair ofsimilar sections joined in contiguous coplanar relationship for sealableengagement with the margins of said opening, a panel member moldedintegrally into each of said sections and a demountable panel memberremovably mounted in each of said sections in spaced opposed relation tothe first-mentioned panel member, a hinge member comprising an invertedU-shaped plastic-coated nylon element extending between and forming ahinge between the oppositely disposed portions of the contiguoussections, the legs of the U having spaced openings therein and beingembedded in the plastic framework of the adjacent portions of thecontiguous sections of the lid with the plastic material through saidopenings to firmly anchor the hinge in integral relationship with saidsections, said element forming the sole hinge between the sections withthe bight of the U being substantially flush with the uppermost face ofthe framework to provide a substantially continuous unbroken uppersurface and forming the axis of the hinge, whereby each section isadapted to be folded back into substantially superposed relation to theother section.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 1,196,244 Kinoshita Aug. 29, 1916 2,242,421 Dodge May 20, 19412,283,448 Malek May 19, 1942 2,331,512 Siedschlag Oct. 12, 19432,507,965 Eichner May 16, 1950 2,607,411 Van Vliet Aug. 19, 1952

